Mechanical educational toy



April 11, 195o H. J. KIPPER MECHANICAL EDUCATIONAL TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Deo. 15, 1945 I|||.|ll IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIH lllLI l', ff

April l1, 1950 H. J. KIPPER 2,503,340

MECHANICAL EDUCATIONAL Toy Filed Dec. 15, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedApr. 11, 1950 UNI T ED `STATE S PATE N T OFF ICE *MECHANICAL:EDUCATIONAL .TOY

Hugh J. Kipper, St.,Louis,"M0.

Application December 15, 1945,'1SerialNo. 635,288

7 Claims. v1 .Thepresent invention relates generally to toyconstructions, and more particularly to .an educational mechanical vtovpower crane and power shovel involving novel features of yconstrl-ictionand maneuverability v.Anobject of the present invention is to providea'novel mechanical toy which incorporates features of operability ormaneuverability.

.f Another .object is toprovide a novel mechanical toy .whichincorporates rotating, pivoting yand longitudinally lmoving elements ina manner to provide full maneuverabilityor operability withoutconfliction orsnarling of the several elements. Another object isvtoprovidea novel mechanical toy includingfeatures adapting it to beoperated as a crane or a power shovel.

.Another object is to provide a novel mechanical toyin which thecontrols for operating the several movable components thereof-arelocated as aneasily. accessible group.

Another object is to provide a novel mechanical toy in which a pluralityof operating lines or ca bles are disposed to allow-for rotation andpivoting of elements of the device without fouling of thelines-orcables.

vOther objects are to provide anovel mechanical toy'whichis of simpleand sturdy construction, inexpensive and easy to fabricate, and readilyoperated and maneuvered.

The 'foregoing and other objects and advan tages of the presentinvention are Vapparentirorn the following description -taken kwiththeaccompanying. drawings, in which:

. {Figflvis atoppl-an viewOiapreferred` embodiment of v.the presentinvention, the adaptation takingthefformy of a ypower crane;

' ;Fig...2 isa side elevation ofthe toy power-crane shown inFig. Laportion of-the cabbeing broken away. and sectioned in partfto showoperating details;

Fig. 3 is -a central longitudinal ysection.through the power crane shownin'Fig. 1, a portion of the remote leg of the telescopic boom being-alsoshown in section;

.Figli is an enlarged sectionfon the line /l-lll of eFig. 3 directed todetails of the :operati-ng mechanism;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary, transverse, cross-sectional Viewthrough Vthe cab Ymounting andoperating cranks;

Fig. 6 isacentral, longitudinal, sectional view of the presentinvention, the adaptation .taking the form of a power shoveLrparts beingshown in side elevation; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, central, longitudinal.

sectional .View lshowing the vboonfi'and associated power scoop, thescoopbeingin dump position.

.Referring-to the drawings more `particularly byreference numerals,`there .is shown in Figs. 1 .through 5.a .toy powercrane,@generallydesiglili nated T2li, which is constructed in accordance with the lteachingsof the ypresent invention. Broadly,the toy power crane' 20 includesamobile base22, :acab y4, anoperating or lmaneuverimg mechanism :12 n,and a1 boom 128.

The mobilebase 2v2 includes ahorizontal .frame member ,30 havingadownwardly turned-flange 32 :along y.twofopposed edges .and a :circulan11pwardly turned, central internal yflange -34. The frame lmember 3l)may be readily `made as .a simple stamping. Each of the flanges 3:2aisfsecured bly/suitable yscrews .-36, or the -`like, along the top edgeVof an elongated member 38. The members 38 YAare reduced Vat=eaehend,as-shown, and receive .grooved discs 40 at such ends by means of:suitable studs .A2 anchored .in At-heelongated members .38. `-Cotterpins 44,or .the..like, retainthediscs 40 'onthe -studs 42. An .endlesstread e6 isdisposedabout .each `pair ofdiscs :4-0 and includesaninternal flange :48 .forcooperating withthe grooves vin the discs All,and outwardlydirected lugs A9. .The Vmembers `38 :and thediscs-.dVmaybe-made of wood, metal, or the like, and the endless tread 46 ofrubber oriother.

similar .materiaL The operatingor maneuvering mechanism r'2li (Figs.Ll-and 5) isdisposed atop the mobile-base 22 and yincludesacrown .gear50 `resting on .the internal flange ktheteeth 52 -being outsideof theflange 34 anddownwardly directed. The cab 2li iis securedfto the .topface-.of the 4rcrowngear 5E by suitablerivets lhorthe like. A-centralh7`disposed `aperture -55 in the crown gear 5D 4and an aligned Aaperture 58in the AIioor ybil Vof the cab ,Elsnugly receive asleeve 62, Vthe,sleeve y62 having a .lange 54 restingvonth-e ycab floor B0. Acrank-member S5 having a 'crank handle `68 extends throughAaligned'apertures J0. in the flange 34 and .aligned apertures l2 Yinthe -sleeve .62

(Fig. 4l), therebyrotatably anchoring thecrown.

geared with its superposed cab-24 to theziiange 34 of themobile base.22.Thecrankmemberl hasapinion ,14 secured thereto, .asby -afset'screworthelikefbeneath and .in engagement ywith the teeth YL52 of thecrown'sgear Sil. A cotterpin `"I6,

orthe.likenthroughthe endof the crankmember '5B .remote from the handle68, cooperates with the pinion 'i4 to .prevent-longitudinal. movement ofthe crank memberli.

Extending through aligned apertures 18in .1th iiange 34 is ra secondcrank vmember '80 having a .crank handle 82. Cotter pins 1'84, or :thelike,

prevent withdrawal-ofthe crankmeinber 8,0. A.

leaf spring secured to the frame member 30,

' irictionally engages the crankfmember- 80 tomaintain itin selectedposition. -A third crankf-rnernn berna having-a handle 88 extendsthrough aligned aperturesfildnthe zflangea. `Cotter pins.v92,for

the like, prevent withdrawal lofthe crank memberl 85. Aleafspring-engages the crank :member in the sleeve 62 opposed to the V-notch 96,

thence under and against the crank member 66, and upwardly through thesleeve 62. Further mention of the cables 94 and 98 is made below. Forease of operation and accessibility, the crank members 86 and 86 areinthe same horizontal plane as the crank member 66, being in divergentrelationship to each other so that the crank handles 68, 82 and 88 forman operating group.

Extending from the flange 34 between the crank members 66 and 80 (Fig.4) is a tubular member 5;

|02 which reciprocably receives a small rod member |04 having a head|06. A cord or cable |08 is secured to the free end of the rod member|04 and extends upwardly through the sleeves 62.

Further consideration is given below to the cable |08.

' The cab or compartment 24 is preferably of the streamlinedconfiguration clearly shown in the drawings and comprises side walls ||0and ||2, rear wall H4, top ||5, and a front protruding portion ||6including side walls ||8 and |20 and a sloping front wall |22. Thebottom 60 is referred to above. A partition |24 in the cab 24 provides arear compartment |26 in which sand |28, or the like, is disposed. Thesand |28 may be placed in the compartment |26 at the time of fabricationor a suitable opening (not shown) may be provided for subsequent llingof the compartment |26.

The boom 28 comprises spaced tubular legs |30 and |32 secured to atransverse sleeve |34 pivotally mounted on a pin |36 suitably supportedby and anchored to the walls H8 and |20 of the protruding portion H6 ofthe cab 24. Spacers |40 maintain the legs |30 and |32 in secured spacedrelation. Telescopically associated with the legs |30 and |32,respectively, are tubular legs |42 and |44. The legs |42 and |44converge at the top (Fig. l), receiving between the ends a pulley |46mounted on a pin |48 which also maintains the legs 42 and |44 in shownassociated relation. A second pin |50 is disposed through the legs |42and |44 below the pin |48 and receives a pulley |52. Each leg |42 and|44 has a plurality of apertures |54 selectively adapted to receive aremovable cross member |56 supported in suitable aligned apertures inthe legs |30 and |32.

The before-mentioned cable 94, after leaving the sleeve 6'2, passes overa pulley |58 supported in struck-out portions of the sloping front wall|22, passes through an opening |60 in the sloping front wall |22 formedby the struck-out portions, and is led over the pulley |46. The cable 94receives at its free end a member |62 having a hook |64.

- The cable 98, after leaving the sleeve 62, is led over a pulley |68supported by struck-out portions of the sloping front wall |22 and topH5, thence passes through an opening |68 in the sloping front wall |22and top ||5 at the juncture formed by the struck-out portions, thencepasses around the pulley |52 and returns to anchorage in an ear |10formed from material of the sloping front wall 22 or secured thereto.

The cable |08, after leaving the sleeve 62, passes 4 over the transversesleeve |34 and is shown coiled on the iioor 60 of the cab 24 when thepresent invention is employed as a power crane (Fig. 3). The cable |08may be attached to one of the spacers |40, if desired, for convenience.

A downwardly extending stop pin |12 is secured to the bottom 60 of thecab 24 adjacent the front end and is adapted to contact the crankmembers 8|) and 86 to prevent 360 rotation of the cab 24.

Referring to Figs. 6 and '7, the present invention is shown as a powershovel. A scoop |14 is pivotally mounted on the removable cross member|56 through the medium of a supporting arm 16 of U cross section. Thescoop 14 has solid opposed sides |18 and a bottom |80 which are closedat the rear by a pivoted gate |82 pivoted to the scoop by a suitablymounted pin |84. A coil spring |86 biases the gate |82 into closedposition. The previously described cable |08 is secured at its free endto a suitable eye member |88 fixed to the outer face of the gate |82,the cable 08 being trained under the spacers |40 and over the transversecross member |56. A tension spring |90 is secured at one end to a.bracket |92 xed to the supporting arm |16 and at the other end to theupper spacer |40, thereby biasing the scoop |14 in a counterclockwisedirection. A bail |94, pivoted between the sides |18 of the scoop |14,is engaged by the hook |64 of the member |62.

The remaining elements and parts of the exemplication shown in Figs. 6and '7 are, of course, identical with the same parts in elements shownin Figs. l through 5 and, hence, require no further description at thispoint.

Operation When the present invention takes the form of a power crane,the legs 42 and 44 are usually withdrawn to the maximum extent inrelation to the legs |30 and |32 in order to achieve maximum boomlength. In the drawings, an intermediate extension relationship is shownto preserve space, Of course, any extension relationship may beemployed.

Rotation of the crank member 66 through manipulation of its handle 68effects rotation of the crown gear 50 and therethrough the rotation ofthe cab 24 with its associated boom 28. As illustrated, the cab 24, withits boom 28, may be rotated through approximately 285, the stop |12restricting movement between the crank members and 86. However, ifdesired, the stop |12 may be otherwise based than shown and a rotationof substantially 360 achieved. It is to be observed that the crankmember 66, which rotates the cab 24, also cooperates with the sleeve 62to maintain the cab 24 and the movable base' 22 in operativerelationship, an important feature of the present invention. Therelationship of the sleeve 62, the crank member 66 and the flange 34 issuch that the t in respect to the crown gear 50 and the eab bottom 60 issnug to prevent wobbling of the cab 24, yet suiiicient clearance ispresent to permit easy rotation of the crown gear 50 and the cab 24.

The boom 28 is raised and lowered through the medium of the crank member86 and its associated cable 98. Rotation of the handle 88 of the crankmember 86 winds or unwinds the cable 98 to raise or lower, respectively,the boom 28, the weight of the boom 28 being sufiicient to effectdownward movement when the crank handle 88 is manually rotated in thelowering direction. The

leaf spring 93 retains the crank member 86 in selected position.

Rotation of the handle 82 of the crank 80 and the consequent winding orunwinding of the cable 94 effects the raising and lowering,respectively, of the hook |64. The weight of the member |62 issuiiicient to keep the cable 94 taut. The leaf spring 85 retains thecrank member 82 in selected position.

It is manifest that the cables 94 and 98 are threaded underneath thecrank member 66 and through the sleeve 62 in a manner to preventsnarling and abrasive wear.

When the present invention takes the form of the power shovel, the boom28 is normally in minimum extension, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Theaforesaid manipulation of the cable 94 through the crank member 80 toraise the hook |64 effects clockwise pivoting of the scoop |14, thespring |90 moving it in the opposite direction. The raising and loweringof the boom 28 is, of course, the same as just described. The pivot gate|82 is opened to permit materials picked up by the scoop |14 to dump byrearward longitudinal movement of the rod |04 (Fig. 4), return movementof the gate |82 to closed position being effected by the spring |86.

It is manifest that there is herein disclosed a mechanical toy whichachieves all of the objects and advantages sought. that modifications ofthe present invention which will be apparent to those skilled in the artare considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which islimited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanical toy comprising a support including a base member, a cabmounted on the base member for rotation in respect thereto, means forrotating said cab including a crank member, and means for securing saidcab to said base member for said rotation including a centrally disposedmember in engagement with said cab, said crank member extending throughapertures in a portion of the base member and through apertures in saidcentrally disposed member to maintain said cab anchored for rotation.

2. A mechanical toy comprising a support, a cab rotatably mounted on thesupport, means for rotating the cab, a boom extending from the cab andpivotally supported thereby, means for raising and lowering the boom, amember suspended from the boom end and supported thereby, means forraising and lowering said suspended member in respect to the boom end,each of said three means including a member disposed below the level ofthe bottom of the cab, said last three members being disposed as anoperating group.

3. A mechanical toy comprising a support, a cab rotatably mounted on thesupport, means for rotating the cab, a boom extending from the cab andpivotally supported thereby, means for raising and lowering the boom, amember suspended from the boom end and supported thereby, means forraising and lowering said suspended member in respect to the boom end,each of said three means including a crank member disposed below thebottom of a cab and forming an operating group, each of said second andthird means also including a cable trained around the crank member ofthe said first means and connected to its respective operated member.

4. In a mechanical toy, a support including a base member, a cab mountedon the base member It is to be understood for rotation in respectthereto, means for rotating said cab including a crank member, a boompivotally mounted in said cab and rotatable therewith, means for raisingand lowering the boom, a member depending from the front end of the boomand adapted to be raised or lowered in respect thereto, means forraising and lowering said depending member, and means for securing saidcab to said base member for rotation including a centrally disposedmember in engagement with the cab bottom, said crank member extendingthrough apertures in a portion of the base member and through aperturesin said centrally disposed member to maintain said cab anchored forrotation, said boom raising and lowering means including a crank memberrotatably mounted in apertures in the said portion of the base member,said depending. member raising and lowering means also comprising acrank member rotatably mounted in apertures in the said portion of thebase member.

5. A mechanical toy comprising a base, a superstructure rotatablymounted on said base, a member engaging said superstructure, a crankmember securing said member to said base and therethrough maintainingsaid superstructure in place, and a pinion secured to said crank memberoperatively engaging teeth secured to said superstructure for rotatingthe same through manipulation of said crank member.

6. A mechanical toy comprising a base, a superstructure mounted thereon,a boom member pivotally mounted on said superstructure, a membersuspended from said boom, a pair of crank members disposed beneath thesuperstructure and supported by said base, a line secured to each crank,one line being operatively connected to said boom and the other to saidmember for raising and lowering each, and a member in the same planewith said cranks and disposed therebetween, said lines being trainedbeneath said member from said cranks to prevent snarling.

7. A mechanical toy comprising a base, a superstructure rotatablymounted on said base, a member having an opening therethrough engagingsaid superstructure, means securing said member to the base and saidsuperstructure in place, means for rotating said superstructure, a boommember pivotally mounted on said superstructure, a member suspended fromsaid boom, a pair of crank members disposed beneath the superstructureand supported by said base, and a line secured to each crank member, oneline being connected to said boom member and the other to said suspendedmember, said lines being trained through the opening of said member.HUGH J. KIPPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,148,432 Belanger July 27, 19151,302,857 Sabina May 6, 1919 1,700,181 Russell Jan. 29, 1929 1,770,175Lichtenberg July 8, 1930 1,890,728 Fundom Dec. 13, 1932 1,894,683Hankins Jan. 17, 1933 1,897,383 Burgoyne Feb. 14, 1933 2,196,649 WaiteApr. 9, 1940 2,295,769 Zeilman Sept. 15, 1942

